Cats land JUCO tight end

Chris Bonney

12/02/2004

This past holiday weekend turned out to be a very good weekend for the Arizona Wildcat Football Program. The Wildcats beat their rivals from the north 34-27 and in attendance to watch the game were many high profile JUCO recruits, two of which committed before they left Tucson. Well now they are not alone as another great prospect from the JUCO ranks has committed to the Arizona coaching staff.

Golden West College tight end Brandyn McCall committed to head Coach Mike Stoops on Tuesday during a visit from the head man.

"I committed to Mike Stoops when he was here," said McCall. "He was here on Tuesday for an in home visit but I knew that I was gong to commit before that. I had a great visit over the weekend and I just knew that is where I wanted to go."

McCall talked about his visit and about how much fun he had watching UA beat their rivals from Arizona State.

"The game was amazing," he said. "I was hosted by Pete (Graniello). He is a real cool guy, very mellow so we got along because I am kind of mellow too. I also hung around Dane Krogstad, the freshman linebacker and I met with Steve Fleming and we talked about how I would take his spot if I went there. I liked it a lot and I like the program atmosphere at Arizona."

How he got along with the players is only part of why McCall chose Arizona.

"When I was there I saw the players will to win and I liked that," he said. "I saw the depth chart and I knew that I could go in and play and earn my spot on the team. Coach Stoops has the program going in the right direction and I am happy to be a part of it. My parents were very happy to hear that I committed to Arizona and that I will be playing in the Pac-10. They are just happy that I got a scholarship most of all so I can finish my education."

One of McCall's main recruiters was running backs coach Kasey Dunn and according to McCall Dunn was very happy at the news of his commitment.

"When I told Coach Dunn he was really happy," he said. "He said that he was happy and excited to have me on board."

McCall will move to Tucson in early January and he pulled the trigger despite Arizona currently being without a tight ends coach. Steve Spurrier Jr. has moved on to join his father in South Carolina.

"They said that they would have a new coach by the time I get there," he said. "I will get there on January 9th and I have faith that they will have someone and that they will get someone very good."

McCall is the 18th public commitment for the Arizona Wildcats in the signing class of 2005. He adds a threat to a position of great need for next year as the top two tight ends have now exhausted their eligibility.